Compare Your Reusable Bag

Most “Green” bags aren’t really eco-friendly. Dorothy Cooper, of Natural Jute, recommends a sustainable, comfortable, durable, fashion statement alternative.
By: Natural Jute Bags
 
Jan. 29, 2009 - PRLog -- An estimated 100 billion plastic bags are thrown away in the U.S. every year, according to the Worldwatch Institute, and Americans are beginning to realize that plastic bags are too much of a not so good thing.

The Environmental Protection Agency says that more than 300 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are used in the U.S. each year. The EPA reported that the recycle rate for plastic bags, sacks and wraps measured just 9.1 percent in 2007 (compared to 36.8 percent of paper bags).  

Some plastic bags end up in landfills, where they can take up to 1,000 years to break down. Many more plastic bags wind up as litter and are a threat to wildlife and our environment.

Increasingly, the trend at many grocery stores and major retailers has been an attempt to decrease the use of plastic bags by offering reusable bags for sale at checkout lanes. However, these bags, although recyclable, are not biodegradable and thus they are not eco-friendly.

The majority of these so-called ‘green’ bags are made from non-woven polypropylene (NWPP), a form of plastic polymer, that requires about 28 times as much energy to produce as the plastic used in standard disposable bags, and eight times as much as a paper sack.  

While searching for a natural alternative, Dorothy Cooper, owner and CEO of Natural Jute, (http://www.naturaljute.com) discovered the tradition of making bags from jute fiber. Cooper says “I was looking for a natural material that was sturdy, strong and could hold as much as I could stuff into it - while still being comfortable to carry, and I was impressed by the benefits of jute bags.”

Eco-friendly characteristics are increasingly important to consumers and manufacturers as they choose greener alternatives such as natural fibers. Jute is a long, soft, shiny vegetable fiber that can be spun into one of the most versatile of all natural fabrics (also called burlap or hessian), and has been known for centuries for its strength and heat resistance.

Already a partner in an international export company, Cooper became so passionate about the qualities and environmental benefits of the jute bags that she started a company called Natural Jute, aimed at introducing jute shopping and wine bags to the wholesale market.

“When I started using the jute bags, people repeatedly told me how attractive and functional they were, and asked where I had got them. I had never seen such a reaction to a reusable bag! So I decided to start a new company that would allow me to share these bags, and at the same time do something for positive for our environment.” Research shows that a typical field of jute consumes over 15 tonnes of harmful CO2 gas, making the jute plant several times more beneficial to the atmosphere than trees.

“Because jute is an organic and renewable fiber, our bags are not only reusable, but unlike plastic and non-woven polypropylene bags, they are from a sustainable source,” Cooper says. The root of the jute plant plays a vital role in sustainability for farmers by enhancing the fertility of the soil without chemicals. By rotating with other crops such as rice and potatoes, jute acts as a barrier to pests and diseases for other crops, as well as providing a substantial amount of nutrients to other crops in the form of organic matter and micronutrients.

But Cooper knows that a key factor in encouraging the green initiative to make products that are user-friendly as well as eco-friendly. “People must want to use them, and reuse them, not stash them in the closet,” she says. “So we identified design criteria to encourage usability.” Natural Jute bags are constructed with padded cotton handles, making them equally comfortable to carry by hand or over the shoulder. Also, the bags are easy to pack at the grocery store because they stand up on their own. “They don’t flop over like other bags,” says Cooper.

But the environment may be the biggest winner.  “Think about the numbers,” says Cooper.  “A person using our bags 4 or 5 times a week will replace about 520 plastic bags a year. Just imagine the impact on the environment if everyone started using reusable bags.”

http://www.naturaljutebags.com

If you would like more information about this topic, a sample bag, or to schedule an interview with Dorothy Cooper, please call 856-845-0496 or email dcooper@naturaljute.com

# # #

Natural Jute Bags | Naturally Ecofriendly | US Wholesale Supplier of Eco-friendly Jute Bags.

We are jute bag manufacturers, importer/expoter, and wholesale supplier based in the US. We supply to a variety of outlets including grocery stores, wine merchants, wineries, gift shops, and farmers' markets.

The use of custom bags is a proven way of increasing customer loyalty, and research shows that customers are more likely to re-use a natural bag.
End
Source:Natural Jute Bags
Email:***@naturaljute.com
Zip:08096
Tags:Jute, Jutebags, Bags, Wine, Grocery, Wholesale, Natural, Fiber, Recycle, Green, Ecofriendly
Industry:Environment, Textile, Lifestyle
Location:Deptford - New Jersey - United States
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Page Updated Last on: Jul 23, 2010
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